The papers summarize important conversations you need to have with your doctor and with those you love. Give those who will make choices as clear a roadmap as possible.

You will be asked to make choices for others you love, like your parents. This is a good time to approach them with this delicate conversation. Say, *Mom and Dad, I’m so happy that you’re in good health. It’s painful to even consider your final days. I love you and want to make sure your wishes are honored, even if you can’t state them yourself. If you cannot speak for yourself, who would you like to speak for you? What would you want if you were in Terri Schiavo’s condition?*

If you find yourself in a position of making choices for someone you love, remember this. Your job is not to make choice you think is best. Your job is to make choice you think your loved one would make for himself or herself.

You can honor Terri Schiavo’s life and legacy by planning for your own death. Hopefully you will die in peace and comfort, surrounded by those you love. By communicating your end-of-life wishes in advance, you offer a gift to those you leave behind. And in deciding how to die, may you get a renewed vision of how you want to live.

Copyright (c) 2005 Vicki Rackner, MD. All rights reserved.

Get tools to live a healthier live and bounce back from illness more quickly in Dr. Vicki's teleclass series "The Healthy Way to be Sick." For more information visit: http://www.medicalbridges.com/registration.html

May I suggest when you have that guilty feeling or bad parenting moment run to God and readmit how much you need Him. Also, rest in Him and thank Him that He is still in control and His plan will happen. Sometimes I even say, “God these are your children too and I know you love them even more than I do, please help me. Give me strength to be parent you would have me be.”

Guilt Free Parenting means relying on our Abba Father and trusting Him to guide us in parenting our children. It means we won’t be perfect, but we can rest assured that God is still working out His plan in all of our lives. To me Guilt Free Parenting means realizing how deeply I need God and His wisdom in every area of my life and how I need to run to Him daily for strength and encouragement.

Can I promise you that if you truly realize how God is in control of your life and your children’s life that you won’t feel guilty? I wish I could. I have to admit I still feel guilty from time to time. I’m learning and resting in my Abba Father who loves and cares for me and who has a perfect plan for my life and for my children as well. I’m so thankful I’m not parenting alone, but with someone who is Perfect Parent. So, are you willing to try Guilt Free Parenting for a change? I think you will like living without guilt.